Wrestling

UB Wrestling Adds Three More Standouts on Signing Day

Apr 13, 2012

BUFFALO, NY - The Buffalo wrestling team continues to find success on the recruiting trail, and announced today the signing of three more student athletes who are expected to compete right away for starting positions on the 2012-13 squad.

Head coach Jim Beichner and recruiting coordinator Matt Lackey announced the signing of high school seniors Jarred Lux and Jimmy Kloc, and the team will also add transfer Erik Galloway from the University of Pittsburgh. Lux will project to be a 184-pound wrestler, Kloc will likely compete at 149 and Galloway will continue to wrestle at 133 pounds at the Division I level.

"Most programs struggle with depth at the upper weights, just because they're not very plentiful," Lackey said. "This year our focus was on the upper weights and getting some starters in there and also add some depth behind them."

"You see a lot of different types of kids come through," Lackey added. "Some are highly ranked and have all the talent in the world, but you have to make sure they're still hungry. What you get out of the guys who didn't reach their goals in high school is that they have a monkey on their back and something to prove."

Lux comes to Buffalo from North Allegheny High School, which finished the 2011-12 season with a 20-6 record. Personally, Jarred had a 34-1 overall record and was ranked third in the state of Pennsylvania. In the preseason, he was a place winner at the prestigious Super 32 tournament. Lux will also have a familiar face welcoming him to campus.

"Jarred is (assistant coach) Jeff Catrabone's nephew, so from a pedigree standpoint, he's got some good genes with a three-time All American in the family," Lackey said. "Pennsylvania is arguably the toughest state in the country for wrestling, and we watched him all year long and saw that he was an extremely talented wrestler. He has several ways to score and he moves well for a big guy. His best days are ahead of him and we expect great things out of him."

Jimmy Kloc comes from Iroquois High School and is another New York state champion to make their way to UB. Kloc is a four-time state finalist and earned the state title in 2010 and 2011. As a freshman, he was the NHSCA Freshman National Championship. The website D1CollegeWrestling.net has Jimmy ranked 122 among the nation's top 150 incoming freshmen, just behind fellow recruit Chris Nevinger (117).

"Jimmy is unquestionably one of the more talented wrestlers that UB has recruited and he's going to add tremendous depth to the middle of our lineup and challenge for a starting position right away," Lackey said. "Obviously there's an adjustment for every incoming freshman, but he's an amazing talent."

Erik Galloway recently finished his second season with the Pitt Panthers, finishing with a 13-6 record that included three pins and three tech falls. Hailing from State College, PA, Galloway won 123 matches as a high school wrestler at State College High School, good for fourth-most in school history. He was also a two-time NHSCA All-American and placed in the top eight of the PIAA state championships twice as well.

"He'll have to come in and earn the spot, but there are some needs at the lower weights and having a guy who can step in and make an immediate impact is important," Lackey said. "Sometimes with freshmen, you have to develop and build them up, but he comes in with two years under his belt working out in a tough wrestling room. He's battle ready."

Now entering his second season as the head assistant coach and lead recruiter, Lackey is thrilled with the potential each new recruit offers.

"These guys, along with fellow incoming freshmen Tony Lock and Chris Nevinger, are at weight classes where we need them," Lackey said. "We struggled at 184 this year and Justin Heiserman is moving up to heavyweight, so we have vacancies at 184 and 197 pounds and we feel these guys can fill that need. The theme for me this year in my first year as recruiting coordinator has been strong academics, and finding tough kids who have that drive and willingness to improve."